Losing six seniors from last year’s Division III championship team, Ursuline Coach Jay Jay Juan has had to incorporate a new batch of young but talented players onto his squad that features just three seniors.

That new talent combined with the veteran talent to take down Sacred Heart in straight sets 25-18, 25-22, 25-19.

“Well one of the main things we try to do is to throw the ball on first tempo off our serve and then receive then serving,” Juan said. “We broke down in certain areas of it, and it’s a young team and we’re just trying to regroup and get everything squared away.”

Senior Lauren Barre added to Juan’s assessment of the her team’s performance.

“(Sacred Heart) has really improved since we played them the first time,” she said. “We’ve really been trying to get together on our communication and getting our sets timed right, and I think we came through today.”

Ursuline raced to an 11-4 lead to start the first game. Barre spearheaded the offensive attack, crushing four kills during the sequence. The senior finished the match with 12 kills and two blocks.

Sacred Heart Coach Michael Barnes called a timeout, and the Cardinals responded as they scored six of the next nine points to edge closer to the Lions at 13-10. Ellie Silvia’s all-around effort kept Sacred Heart in the game and in the match. The sophomore outside hitter finished with nine kills, eight digs and two aces.

Ursuline responded to the Cardinals run to eventually close out the game behind Barre’s play at the net and the tenacious defense of eighth-grader Macie Grubbs. She kept multiple points in play throughout the match, diving and reaching down on returns from Sacred Heart. Grubbs scooped 22 digs in the match.

Barre was not the only playmaker on offense as Brianna McKay started to assert herself at the net in the second game. The sophomore paced the Lions to an 18-13 lead with five kills during the span. She finished the match with 10 kills.

“(McKay) is like my little sister on the team,” Barre said. “She came up as the new middle blocker, and I’ve been through that. So we’ve really just been practicing together and getting our timing together with the new setters. And so far, it’s been coming together pretty well.”

Sacred Heart responded behind the low-arcing serves of Silvia to bring the Cardinals within 22-20. Juan called timeout, and the Lion’s closed out the game.

The third game was a back-and-forth affair that featured seven ties and six lead changes. Sacred Heart took a 12-10 lead after a thunderous block by Emily Frischhertz that brought the Cardinals' bench to its feet. The junior middle blocker finished with six kills, one block and an ace.

But once again, Ursuline responded behind the play of Barre and McKay who helped the Lions pull ahead and eventually close out the match.

“Today I saw youth,” Barnes said referring to his team that features just three seniors. “You have the game close, and you miss on serves and returns. Today’s match put many of my young players in those crucial situations, and next time they’re just going to have to execute.”